Rotatable multiple tool support



y 1, 1956 R. T. B. DAVISON ET AL 2,743,746

ROTATABLE MULTIPLE TOOL SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 5

INVENTORS ROBERT T. B. DAVISON WILLIAM J.J. GORDON CARLETON S. MARDEN ATTORNEYS y 1956 R. T. B. DAVISON ET AL 2,743,746

ROTATABLE MULTIPLE TOOL SUPPORT Filed Dec. 3, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Q'Im- ENTORS ROBER B. DAVISON WILLIAM J.d. GORDON CARLETON S. MARDEN ATTORN EYS y 1956 R. T. B. DAVISON ET AL 2,743,746

ROTATABLE MULTIPLE TOOL SUPPORT Filed Dec. s, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3

iNVENTORS ROBERT T. B. DAVISON WILLIAM J.J. GORDON CARLETON S. MARDEN ATTORN EYS United States Patent ROTATABLE MULTIPLE TOOL SUPPORT Robert T. E. Davison, Acton, William J. J. Gordon, Cambridge, and Carleton S. Marden, Boston, Mass., assignors to Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 3, 1953, Serial No. 395,946

9 Claims. (Cl. 144-1) In various types of mechanical fabricating and processing operations it is the usual practice to provide a plurality of separate operating stations or zones, each of which is provided with an instrumentality appropriate to perform a given operation. In many cases the different operating instrumentalities, which may include a lathe, drill press, grinder, etc., are lined up on a bench and driven from a line shaft, whereas in other cases they are placed at diiferent locations and driven either from an overhead shaft or by individual motors. In either case the space requirements are appreciable and the operator must travel from one position to another.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and economical supporting unit for a pluralitydof separate and distinct operating instrumentalities so as to conserve space and avoid the necessity of the operator traveling from one position to another.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following. description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a multiple supporting unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the rotary table member taken from the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 (sheet 1) is a plan view of the base and associated locking and indexing mechanisms; and

Fig. 5 (sheet 3) is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. j

In accordance with the present invention we provide a multiple support which comprises a suitable base having an upstanding arm supporting a polyhedron-shaped table member so that its adjoining faces or sides may be successively moved to. a horizontal position so as to provide either a plurality of working surfaces, or areas for supporting several different operating instrumentalities, or both. The preferred form of polyhedron is a pyramid, either regular or truncated, which provides a plurality of isosceles triangles or sections supported by a pyramidal frame structure rotatably mounted on the upwardly inclined arm so that upon rotation of the pyramid its adjoining surfaces are successively brought to horizontal position. Releasable locking means are provided to hold the table member with one of its faces in horizontal or operative position.

Although the surfaces of the pyramid may carry operating instrumentalities each having an independent driving motor, we prefer to use a single driving motor which may be mounted on. the upstanding arm and connected with a suitable power transmitting means through a clutch which automatically engages and disengages when the face supporting the instrumentality is moved to and from horizontal or operative position. To this end the driving clutch member may be mounted on the motor shaft and a driven clutch member mounted on the underside of each supporting surface so as to become en- 2,743,745 Patented May 1, 1956 gageable with the driving clutch member when such surface is moved to horizontal position and disengageable operates, the clutch becomes disengaged, thereby arresting rotation. Since each face of the table member when in use occupies the same horizontal position, the operator may stand or sit in the same position when using any selected instrumentality, tool or surface.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which show what is now considered a preferred form of the invention, the numeral 1 (Fig. 2) designates a base which may be a heavy casting or a hollow shell adapted to be filled with Water, sand or other weighty material. vertically from the upper face of the base is a post 2 integral with a reinforcing rib 3 and an upwardly inclined arm 4!, and rotatably mounted on the arm 4 is a table member 5 in the form of a pentagonal pyramid. The table member 5 comprises a pyramidal frame structure 6, the apex of which carries a thrust bearing 8 rotatable on the end portion of arm 4- and held in position by a collar 11? (Fig. 2). Triangular panels 12 are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame 6 and define the work surfaces of the table which carry the different tools. or operating instrumentalities such, for example as a circular saw C, sander S, drill press D, and jig saw I, etc., indicated by the broken lines of Pig. 1, and if desired a gooseneck light G may be mounted in the end of the arm 4,as illustrated.

The base of the pyramidal frame 6 is provided with a spider-like reinforcing member having struts l4 welded to the corners of the frame and a central ring 15 fixed to a sleeve 16 which is rotatable on the lower end portion of arm 4 (Figs. 2 and 3). With this construction and arrangement the table member 5 may be rotated so as to bring the panels or surfaces 12 successively into horizontal or operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Pivotally mounted on the rear face of the base 1 is an adjustable arm 13 (Fig. 4 which carries a latch member 20 shaped to embrace the lower corners of adjoining panels 12, thereby to lock the table member with one face or panel in horizontal position. The arm 18 is connected by a bar 22 with toggle links 24 and 25, the link 24 being pivotally connected to the base and to one end of a spring-loaded plunger 26 housed within a sleeve 28 which is mounted on the base 1. With this construction and arrangement of parts the spring loaded plunger 26, acting through the toggle links 24 and 25, is effective to act on the latch 20 so that it exerts a reliable locking action on the table member 5. Release of this locking action is effected by a treadle 30 pivotally mounted on the rib 3 and connected by a link 32 with the toggle links so that when depressed the latch 20 is swung outwardly, as shown by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 4, thus permitting rotation of the table member 5 in the manner hereinafter described.

Mounted inwardly of sleeve 16 is a collar 34 (Fig. 2) and disposed about the arm 4 and against the collar 34 is a split clamp 35 which carries an electric motor 36 controlled by switch 37, the motor having a drive shaft 38 (Fig. 3) which is purposely provided with an axial play of the order of one-quarter inch. The motor 36 is so positioned that its drive shaft 33 is centered between the uppermost struts 14 when any one of the panels 12 is in horizontal position.

Projecting The inner end of drive shaft 38 carries a driving clutch element, here shown as a friction cone 40 selectively engageable with driven friction cones 42 pivotally mounted on the underside of the panels 12. Each of the friction cones 42 is formed with a peripheral groove 44' to :receive a V-belt 45 for driving an arbor 46 which is likewise fixed to the underside of the same panel, as shown in Fig. 2. The arbor 46 carries a sheave connected by a belt 48 extending through an opening in its supporting panel to the drive of the power tool supported on the outer face of the panel, here shown by way of example as the arbor of a circular saw C. The same or equivalent driving connections are provided for eachof the panels so that their respective tools may be operated by motor 36 when the supporting panel is swung to horizontal position.

The engagement and disengagement of the friction cones 40 and 42 is governed by the axial movement of the drive shaft 38 which is controlled by a mechanism including a spring-loaded dry plate clutch 50 (Fig. 2) carried by the lower end of the shaft 33. The clutch 50 is of known construction and has the usual driving and driven members associated with a depressor plate 51 (Fig. 3) by means of which the driving and driven members may be disengaged. The spring loading of clutch 50 not only tends to hold its driving and driven members in engagement, but also yieldingly urges the shaft 38 of motor 36 downwardly in opposition to control elements hereinafter described. The driven member of the clutch 50 is connected with the rotary drive for the table member 5 and its associated index mechanism. The rotary drive comprises an annular sheave 52 (Figs. 2 and 3) screwed or otherwise fastened to the struts 14 iii-coaxial relation to the arm 4 and connected by belt 54 with reduction gears 55 mounted on arms 56 (Fig. 2) fixed to the motor 36 and clamp 35. The reduction gears 55 are connected by belt 57 with the driven member of clutch 50, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that when the clutch 50 is engaged, the motor 36 is operative to rotate the table member 5 at a relatively slow speed.

Slidably mounted on the lower part of arm 4 below the sleeve 16, is another sleeve 60 which carries an upstanding bracket 62 upon which the switch 37 may be conveniently mounted. A push rod 64 is adjustably mounted on the upper end of brackets 62 so as to contact the depressor 51 of the clutch 50, which when forced inwardly against the spring loading not only effects disengagement of the driving and driven members of the clutch, but also moves the shaft 38 f motor 36 upwardly so as to engage the driving cone 40 with one of the driven cones 42. The sleeve 60 is connected by a link 63 with the upper end of a rocker arm 65 fixed to treadle 30. The lower end of the sleeve 16 is formed with five tapered notches 66 circumferentially spaced to conform with the live operative positions of the table member and these notches receive the upper end of the bracket 62 which provides an index member not only operative to guide'th'e push rod 64 in its movements toward and away from the'clutch depressor 51, but also to cooperate with the locking mechanism in holding the table member 5 in one of its five operative positions.

The sleeve 60 is normally held with the plunger 64 engaging the depressor 51 of the clutch 59 by the springloa'ded plunger 26 which acts through arm 18 and lever 68 (Fig. 4) to hold the treadle 30 and associated parts in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the treadle is' depressed, the locking mechanism is not only released as above explained, but the rocker arm 65 slides the sleeve 60 downwardly, thereby disengaging the plunger 6 from the" depressor 51 of clutch 5i), whereupon the driving and driven elements of clutch 50 become engaged and operate to rotate the table member 5. The rotation continues so long as the treadle remains depressed, but when released the index projection of bracket 62 slides along 4' the end of sleeve 16 until it registers with one of the notches 66, whereupon the sleeve 60 is moved upwardly under the influence of the spring loaded plunger 26, thereby engaging the push rod 64 with the depressor 51 of clutch 50 and. simultaneously disengaging the connection to rotary drive of table member 5.

Since axial movement of the shaft 38 of motor 36 effects engagement and disengagement of the friction cones 40 and 42, the parts are so constructed and arranged that when the push rod 64 engages the depres sor 51 so as to effectdisengagement of the driving and driven members of clutch 50; it also moves the shaft 38 upwardly so as to bring the cone 40'into driving engagement with one of the cones 42. When push rod 64- is retracted, the spring loading of clutch 50 is effective not only to engage its driving and driven members, but also to move shaft 38 downwardly to effect disengagement of the friction cones 40 and 42.

A summary of the operation of the apparatus is as follows: I

With the parts in the position-shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the panel 12 supporting the saw C is locked in horizontal position by latch member 20 and the indexprojection of bracket 62, and the push rod 64 maintains the shaft 38 of the motor in its uppermost position to'maintain the driving connection between cone 40 and 42 which is connected with the saw C through belt 45, arbor 46 and belt 48. When the switch 37' is turned on the motor 36 operates the saw, but as the clutch 50 is held disengaged therotary drive for the table member 5 remains idle. When it is'idesiredto use another tool'the operator depresses the treadle30; whereupon the latch 20 is swung outwardly to the position shown by the broken lines of Fig. 4, thereby releasing its" grip on the lower corner of the table member and at the same time the sleeve 60 is moved downwardly a-distance sufficient to permit the index projection of bracket 62 to clear the notched end of sleeve 16, thereby retracting the push rod 64 downwardly beyond the path of movement of strut 14.

Retraction of the push rod simultaneously disengages the cones 40 and 42, and-engages the'driving and driven members of clutch 50 so that the motor now operates through belt 57, reduction gears 55 and sheave 52 to rotate the table member. If one of the adjoining panels 12 is to be brought to horizontal position the treadle 30 is released before the index 64 registers with the notch 66 corresponding to the adjoining panel, thereby permitting the index to ride along the end of the sleeve 16 until the index is moved into the proper notch by the spring-loaded plunger 26. By holding the treadle depressed the table member continues to rotate and any one or more of the tools may be bypassed.

Retraction' of the treadle'30 by the plunger 26 causes the latch 20 to swing inwardly to" engage the corner of the table member 5 and at thesame time the push rod acts against the depressor 51 so as to disengage the rotary drive and establish the driving connection between the none 40 and cone 42 carried by' the panel 12 which is now' in horizontal position, it being noted that when the index projection enters one of the slots 66 the struts 14 are so positioned as to permit the push rod 64'to move inwardly against" the depressor 51 and that until such time th 'nde'xrides' along end Of sleeve 16 so as to prevent inward movement of the pnsnrod.

Altli'ough'th motor 36 is relied on to fot'attf'tli'e" fable member, if desired it may be rotated manually so long as the treadle is depressed, in which case the motor may be turned on only when it is desired to operate one of the tools, but in no case can the motor be used to operate the tools until the table member is properly locked with one face or panel 12' in horizontal position.

In using the apparatus the operator may stand or sit adjacent to the base or open end of the table member where he may conveniently operate the treadle and use the tools. Since the various operating mechanisms are for the most part housed within the table member, they are well protected against injury. Likewise, the power transmitting mechanisms are also housed within the table member and hence the likelihood of the operator being injured is minimized. Moreover, when any tool is not set up for use, the driving connection thereto is detached so that there is no danger of accidentally establishing a connection when the motor is turned on.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, it will be noted that the space requirement for the number of tools that can be supported is much less than that which would otherwise be necessary.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A multiple support comprising a base having an outwardly projecting arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be brought selectively to a horizontal position wherein they provide work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said table member, a power transmitting means mounted on the underside of one face of said table member and having a part extending outwardly therethrough, interengageable clutching elements one of which is connected to the drive shaft of said motor and the other being connected to said power transmitting means, said clutching elements being engageable when said table member is rotated to bring said one face into horizontal position and disengaged when said member is rotated to bring said one face from horizontal position, and releasable locking means for holding said table member with a selected face in horizontal position.

2. A multiple support comprising a base having an outwardly projecting arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be brought selectively to a horizontal position wherein they provide work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said tabie member, a power transmitting means mounted on the underside of each of the faces of said member and having a part extending outwardly therethrough, a clutch element con nected with the drive shaft of said motor, a second clutch element connected with each power transmitting means and arranged to engage and disengage the clutch element connected with said shaft when its associated face is moved to and from horizontal position, and releasable means for holding said table member with a selected face in horizontal position.

3. A multiple support comprising a base having an outwardly projecting arm, a pyramidal-shaped member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be brought selectively to a horizontal position wherein they provide work-supporting surfaces, 2. motor mounted on said arm within said table member, driving means for rotating said table member, a clutch connecting said motor and driving means, releasable locking means normally holding said member with one face in horizontal position, and means for releasing said locking means and engaging said clutch so as to rotate said member to bring another face to horizontal position.

4. A multiple support comprising a base having an outwardly projecting arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be brought to a horizontal position wherein they provide work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said table member, a power transmitting means mounted on the underside of one face of said member and having a part extending outwardly therethrough, interengageable clutching elements one of which is connected with the drive shaft of said motor 6 and the other being connected with said power transmitting means, said clutching elements being brought into engagement when said table member is rotated to swing said one face into horizontal position and brought out of en gagement when said table member is rotated to swing said one face from horizontal position, driving means for rotating said table member, a second clutch connecting said motor and driving means, releasable locking means normally holding said table member with one face in horizontal position, and means for releasing said locking means and engaging said second clutch so as to rotate said member to bring another face to horizontal position.

5. A multiple tool support comprising a base having an upwardly inclined arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be successively swung to horizontal position to provide work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said table member and having an axially movable drive shaft, a clutch having a driving member connected with said shaft and a driven member mounted on the underside of one face of said table member so as to engage said driving member when said one face is moved to a horizontal position and said shaft is moved to an advanced axial position, means for holding said shaft in advanced axial positionwhen said one face is moved to horizontal position, releasable locking means for holding said table member with a selected face in horizontal position,and means for releasing said locking means and substantially simultaneously moving said shaft from advanced axial position so as to disengage said clutch.

6. A multiple tool support comprising a base having an upwardly inclined arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm. so that its adjoining side faces may be successively swung to horizontal position to provide work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said table member, driving means for rotating said table member, a clutch having a driving element connected with said motor, a driven element connected with said driving means and an actuating means for engaging and disengaging the driving and driven elements, releasable locking means for holding said table member with a selected face in horizontal position, and means for releasing said locking means and operating said actuating means so as to engage said driving and driven elements.

7. A multiple tool support comprising a base having an upwardly inclined arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be successively swung to horizontal position to provide Work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said table member, driving means for rotating said table member, a clutch having a driving element connected with said motor, a driven element connected with said driving means and an actuating means for engaging and disengaging the driving and driven elements, an index having a part carried by said table member and a second part movably mounted on said arm so as to interlock with the first part when any face is in horizontal position, means carried by said second part for operating said actuating means to disengage said driving and driven elements when the parts of said index are interlocked, and means for moving said second part so as to engage said driving and driven elements, thereby to rotate said table member.

8. A multiple tool support comprising a base having an upwardly inclined arm, a pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm so that its adjoining side faces may be successively swung to horizontal position to provide work-supporting surfaces, a motor mounted on said arm within said table member and having an axially movable drive shaft, a clutch having a driving member carried by said shaft and a driven member mounted on the underside of one face of said table member so as to engage said driving member when said one face is moved to a horizontal position and said shaft is movedto'en advanced i axial position; an index having a pancarried by' saidtable member and a second part movably'mount'e'd on said arm so asto' interlock with the first part when said one face" is in horizontal position; means-cari*ied by'said second part for holding said shaft in advanced axiai position when said one face is moved to horizontal position, and means for moving saidsecond'parts'o as-to retract said shaft from advanced axial position, thereb'ytd disengage said clutch.

9. A multiple toolsu'pport comprising a base having an upwardly inclined arrn'; a" pyramidal-shaped table member rotatably supported on said arm'so that its adjoining side faces' rnay b'e' successively swung'to horizontal position'topi ovide vvo'rk supporfting"surfaces, a motor mounted onsa'id arm withifi'sa'id table member and having an axially movalfle drivesh'af't', a clutch having a drivi'n'g member connectedwith the inner end of said shaft and a driven member mounted on the' underside of one face of said table member soia's' to engage said driving member' when saido'ne face is moved to an advanced a'iiial position; driving means for rotating said table membet, a second clutch having a drivingelement connected with the outer end of said shaft" and a driven element connected with said dri vin'g' means, the driving'and driven elements of said second clutch being in engagement when said shaft is moved from advanced axial position, an index having apart carried by'said table member and a holding said shaft inadvanced-axial posit-ion v'vhe nsaid" one face is" moved to'horizontal position,--thereby' engaging the driving anddriven elements-of the'first clufch disengaging the driving and driven elements-of said s'e'd' 0nd clutch, and meansfor moving-said second'partfrom interlocking positionwith said first part, thereby' moving" said shaft from advan'ced axial position-to'diserigage the elements of the first clutch andenga ethoseof the second clutch. 9

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file'of this patent 463,790 Quint Nov; 24,1891; 790,484 Denyer May 23,- 1965 983,395 Ogle Feb. 7, 1911 1,506,154 Berthelsen et a1. Aug. 2 6, 1924- 1,550,651 Charter Aug; 1 8 1 9 25 1,867,269 Kimble July 12,1932 2,371,014 Zuellig Mar. 6,1945 2,653,634 Mott Sept. 29, 1953' FOREIGN PATENTS 12,103 Great Britain June 13, 1901" 

